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THE RUSSIAN=AMERICAN 

11 

MINING AND 

EXPLORATION 



COMPANY 

I 

ALASKA TERRITORY 

1900 


4 ?—^ 









NOV 4 1912 


\ 


♦ 

The Russian-American Mining and Exploration Company, a corporation, 
organized under the laws of the State of Washinton, has acquired the famous 
Omilak mines and other valuable interests in Fish River Mining District, 
Alaska Territory. It is the purpose of the Company to operate these mines on 
a large scale. With this object in view the Company will place on sale 50 per 
cent of its entire capital stock, fully paid up and non-assessable under the laws 
of the State of Washington. 

A history of these properties, a general report on same, the plan adopted 
for the sale of the interest, and the general plan outlined for the future develop¬ 
ment and operation of these mines is set forth in this prospectus. 

The Company owns the Omilak and Pioneer lode claims, 600x1500 feet 
each, situate in Fish River Mining District, Alaska Territory, U. S. A. The 
said mining district was formed in the year 1881, and embraces that section of 
country in Northwestern Alaska, bounded on the east by the 161st degree of 
west longitude, on the north by Good Hope Bay, Kotzebue Sound and the Arc¬ 
tic Ocean, on the south by Norton Bay, Norton Sound, and the Behring Sea, 
and on the west by Behring Straits. 

The mines are located in about 65 degrees north latitude. 

See map of Fish River Mining District herewith. 

The claims are distant in a direct line as near as determined without a sur¬ 
vey of about 30 miles from Golovin Bay, which is the nearest point for ship¬ 
ment by sea. The distance by the waters of Fish River to the mines from Golo¬ 
vin Bay is about 75 miles. 

The distance from the mines to the nearest landing on Omilak Creek, a 
tributary of Fish River, is six miles over a level wagon road. 

The distance from the mines in a direct line over a level road across the 
valley of Fish River to the Buster House station on the river proper is about 
12 miles. 

Golovin Bay is a safe land locked harbor, with sufficient water for ordin¬ 
ary seagoing vessels. It is distant easterly from Cape Nome on the northern 
shore of Norton Sound, about 65 miles. 

Historical: In the spring of the year 1881 a prospecting and exploring 
expedition was formed, and a vessel chartered to convey the party to this par¬ 
ticular section of Alaska for the purpose of locating mines and acquiring other 
valuable property. Mr. John C. Green was one of the organizers and a mem¬ 
ber of the original expedition of 1881. 

The result of the expedition was the acquisition of the claims as above, 
with other valuable interests in this section of Alaska. Title to these mining 
claims is now vested in the Russian-American Mining and Exploration Com¬ 
pany by right of location, under the laws of Congress, by its grantors, and are 
now covered by United States patents. 

A further assurance of protection is given by the government. Under 
Section 8 of the Act'of Congress entitled “An Act Providing a Civil Govern¬ 
ment for Alaska,” approved May 17, 1884, which reads as follows: “Parties 
who have located mines or mining privileges therein under the laws of the 
United States, applicable to the public domain, or who have occupied or im¬ 
proved, or exercised acts of ownership over such claims shall not be disturbed 
therein. “ That persons in said district shall not be disturbed in the possession 
of any lands actually in their use or occupation, or now claimed by them. But 






the terms under which such persons may acquire title to such lands is reserved 
for future legislation by Congress.” 

Under the latter provision of this law of Congress, also by subsequent 
legislation had thereon, by rulings of the Interior Department, by Federal and 
United States Supreme Court decisions, also findings of the War Department, 
our title has been held good to a valuable tract of land containing 60 acres on 
Golovin Bay, so occupied, used and improved prior to and since 1884. Patents 
will soon issue to this land by the Government under the land laws so extended 
to Alaska. 


GEOLOGICAL FORMATION OF THE MINES. 

The mines are in limestone formation, in contact with slate, located on a 
bench of Omilak mountain, about 1250 feet above sea level. The foot-wall 
being a well defined wall of micaceous slate, croppings of which are 15 or 20 
feet high, the hanging wall being massive croppings of b'mestone 20 feet in 
height; the distance between walls varying from 150 feet on the north side of 
the hill to 400 feet on the south side of the hill. The ore is an. argentiferous 
galena, associated with large quantities of red, yellow and gray carbonates, and 
is found distributed throughout the ledge matter between the wall's of lime- 
* stone and slate. Considerable talc is also found, also large quantities of shot 
ore distributed throughout the ledge matter. The formation all pitches to the 
west at an angle of 45 degrees. 

Numerous practical miners and experts have examined these properties 
land pronounce them equal to, if not better, than any mines of the same char¬ 
acter in America. 

Since the location of these mines numerous schooners have been fitted out 
and work prosecuted in opening up and developing the same. Mr. John C. 
Green has accompanied these expeditions and has thereby gained a practical 
knowledge of these mines and the various features connected therewith. 

ORE AND BULLION SHIPMENTS. 

The following shipments of ore and bullion have been sent to market by 
some of these schooners and sold to local buyers: 

4,394 lbs. per schooner Leo. 

160,000 lbs. per schooner Alaska. 

220,000 lbs. per schooner Bonanza. 

109,480 lbs. per schooner Bonanza. 

14,842 lbs. per schooner Sylvia Handy. 

115,819 lbs. per schooner Helen N. Kimball. 

VALUE OF THE ORE. 


The average grade of the ore will be found in the shipment per schooner 
Helen N. Kimball as follows: 


Memorandum of 

a shipment of “Omilak ore/’ 

sampled at the Chemical 

Laboratory of Prof. Thomas Price & Son: 

1 ‘ 1 J 



Net 

Gold oz. Gold value 

Silver oz. 

Lead 

Lot. 

Weight lbs. 

Per ton. Per ton. 

Per ton. 

! Percent. 

No. 10 

26,175 

1-10 $2.07 

128 7-10 

61 1-ro 

No. 11 

380 

1-10 2.07 

"‘92 9-10 

■ 48 3-10 

No. 12 

595 

1-10 2.07 

76 I-IO 

49 

No. 13 

6,569 

1-10 2.07 

49 7 -io 

44 5- 10 

No. 14 

82,100 


142 2-10 

74 7 -io 


115.819 






* . . 

NOTE—Lot No. io..Sample of Chlorides 

Lot No. ii .Sample of Red Carbonates 

Lot No. 12.Sample of Grey Carbonates 

Lot No. 13.Sample of Yellow Carbonates 

Lot No. 14.Argentiferous Galena 

In comparing this section of Alaska with others, particular attention is 
called to its many advantages over most parts of the world, when first opened 
up. One of these being the great advantage of cheap water transportation 
with the rapid development now being made in power, which is constantly be¬ 
ing added to sea going vessels to increase their speed and to reduce the cost of 
operating such vessels. Comparing this advantage alone to the primitive 
methods adopted in the days of ’49 by the “prairie schooner” across the conti¬ 
nent and to the voyage of 15,000 miles around the horn, certainly places this 
section of Alaska, with its great undeveloped natural resources, far in advance 
of any other new country on the globe. South Africa, which has made such 
wonderful strides in the past few years, is more than 6000 miles by sea from 
London, yet the voyage is made in less than 15 days. With such vessels on 
the Pacific the voyage from Seattle to< Golovin Bay can be made in less than 
seven days. 

To illustrate this point the following table has been prepared showing 
Express time from New York to' the Pacific Coast from 1848 to 1899:— 

1848: From New York to San Francisco by sailing vessel around the 
Horn, from 120 to 233 days. 

1849: From New York to' San Francisco 1 , steamer to Aspinwall, transit 
across the Isthmus of Darien and steamer from Panama, 31 to 33 days 

1849: Across the plains by emigrant train from five to 1 seven months. 

1854: New York to San Francisco, steamer to Aspinwall, by rail across 
the isthmus and steamer from Panama, 21 to 23 days 

1858: Overland stages by southern route, 21 days. 

i860: Pony express, for mail only, postage $5 per half ounce, from St. 
Joseph, Mo., to San Francisco, 10 days. 

1861 : Overland stages via Pony Express route, via Salt Lake, 19 to 20 

days. 

1869 June: Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroads. New York to 
San Francisco, 9 days. 

1898: By rail, “Overlad Limited,” from New York to San Francisco, 
41-2 days. 

It has taken years to bring the public to a sense of realizing the import¬ 
ance of this particular section of country, to the shipping and commercial in¬ 
terests of this coast. 

Capital judiciously expended is only required to produce immense returns 
from the development of the mines of this company and the natural resources 
of this particular section of Alaska. I11 no case can it be called to mind where 
corporations operating in Alaska with sufficient funds under proper manage¬ 
ment, have not proven to be highly remunerative to the shareholders. It 
would require too much space to give a resume of the many successful enter¬ 
prises now being conducted in Alaska. The tonnage of vessels bound for Al¬ 
aska is rapidly increasing and bids fair to surpass all other business on the Pac¬ 
ific Coast; this together with the rapid strides now being made by our neigh¬ 
bors, the Russians in Siberia, the Japanese, Chinese and Koreans, all tends to 
develop our shipping interests to large proportions, thereby continually reduc¬ 
ing the cost of transportation by water in every direction. 







From the knowledge and experience gained in connection with the mines 
of this company, we are fully convinced that these properties are the best of 
their class in the United States and we believe will prove to be one of the best 
paying properties in America when properly worked and developed. 

The greatest difficulty heretofore experienced has been the want of the 
proper means of transportation and the difficulty of inducing capital to embark 
in business in this comparatively unknown portion of Alaska. The discovery 
of the new gold fields of this section now brings right to' our door the long 
looked for tonnage which will be ample to' handle the large shipments of ore 
from these mines as return cargoes at extremely low figures. Consequently 
this, the largest expense, heretofore figured as operating expenses is almost 
entirely eliminated. 

It now becomes necessary to raise funds principally to' provide the means 
of transportation of the ore from the mines to tide water on Golovin Bay 
either by the waters of Fish river or by the construction of a narrow gauge 
Railroad direct from the mines. There are no engineering difficulties in the 
way of constructing and operating this railroad. There is ample timber along 
and in immediate proximity to the line for ties and all other purposes. 

With this equipment the output from these mines, after getting them in 
working order, will be very large and profitable. The margin of profit will 
be larger on these properties than any other that we know of. The enterprise 
will be entirely free from the exactions of heavy freight charges on shipments 
of similar ores throughout the mountainous countries of the West. The ore 
can be delivered direct to> the smelters at Everett, Tacoma or San Francisco 
and to such of them as will offer the greatest inducements. 

As the new gold discoveries in the immediate proximity to our mines has 
worked such wonderful changes in the question of transportation, so likewise 
have they brought to our door a very large supply of labor, which can be utiliz¬ 
ed to its fullest extent in underground work in shafts and tunnels, especially 
during winter months which is the most favorable time for our operations, and 
the period when little or no work can be performed on placer ground at and in 
the vicinity of Nome and the other gold fields of this section. 

OBJECTS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED. 

It is the purpose of the Company for the present to' work a large force of 
miners in extracting ore from the mines the coming year. 

It is also intended to establish larger trading posts in the Fish River and 
Golovin Bay district this spring, and to make preliminary surveys for the rail¬ 
road from the mines to an available point on Fish river, thence on to Golovin 
Bay with such short spurs leading from the main line to the newly discovered 
gold fields in proximity to the line of the road as will be found profitable. The 
Company will also, under its charter, take steps to locate and acquire other valu¬ 
able mineral lands, known to exist in certain sections of Alaska, which mineral 
deposits have been permitted to lie dormant for many years by the discoverers 
on account of the general prejudice existing in the minds of the public at large 
concerning the natural resources of Alaska and the doubts so long entertained 
as to the feasibility of operating mines in what was supposed to be a barren, 
bleak and inhospitable country. 

PRODUCTION OF THE MINES. 

The output of the mines the first year will be large. For the purpose of this 
prospectus, however, is put down at 5000 tons of solid ore, and an equal amount 
of carbonate ore. Until better facilities are provided ffir delivering this ore to 


a point on Fish river where boats may reach the same we do' not expect to 
handle all the ore extracted the first year. We are satisfied to place the tonnage 
moved at one-fifth of the output, say 1000 tons of solid ore and 1000 tons of 
carbonates. 

The solid ore will average 140 ounces in silver and 75 per cent in lead per 
ton of 2000 lbs. 

The carbonates, after treatment, will average 128 ounces in silver and 60 
per cent in lead per ton of 2000 lbs. 

The uniform net value of this ore per ton at present prices is as follows : 


SOLID ORE—140 ounces silver at 50 cents.$ 70.00 

1500 lbs. lead (75 percent) at 4! cents. 67.50 

Total per ton.$137.50 

CARBONATES—128 ounces silver at 50 cents.$ 64.00 

1200 lbs. lead (60 per cent) at 4-J cents. 54.00 

Total per ton.$118.00 


The last shipment of similar ores sold in the open market as follows: 
Solid ore, net $154.00 per ton. 

Carbonate, net $133.25 per ton. 

The average price being $143.62-! per ton of 2000 lbs. 

For the purpose of this prospectus, estimating the net value of the ore de¬ 
livered at smelters, after deducting cost of mining and transportation, we place 
valuations as follows: 

Solid ore, net $100.00 per ton. 

Carbonates, net $50.00 per ton. 

An average value of $75.00 per ton of 2000 lbs. 

The estimated net returns on ore moved the first year will then be as fol¬ 


lows : 

1000 tons solid ore at $100.00 net.$100,000 

1000 tons carbonates at $50.00 net. 50,000 

Total.$150,000 

Income from trading posts and other sources. 25,000 

$175,000 


Estimated net value of remaining ore extracted first year and placed 
on dump but not shipped will then be as follows: 


4000 tons solid ore at $100.00 net.$400,000 

4000 tons carbonates at $50.00 net. 200,000 

Total.$775,000 


During the following year we will construct the narrow gauge railroad to 
an available point on Fish river and finally to' tide water on Golovin Bay. We 
will then extract not less than 1000 tons of solid ore and 1000 tons of carbon¬ 
ates per month and be in position to rapidly move the same. Our showing after 


completion of the railroad will then be as follows: 

8000 tons ore remaining on dump as above, net value.$ 600,000 

12,000 tons solid ore at $100 net. 1,200,000 

12,000 tons carbonates at $50 net. 600,000 


Total.$2,400,000 



























ESTIMATED INCOME FROM OTHER SOURCES. 

Net earnings from freight and passenger business on R. R. per annum.$50,000 

Net earnings from trading posts per annum. 50,000 

There will be numerous other sources of revenue to the company 
from the product of its placer claims, etc., etc., which will reach very 
handsome figures. We prefer not to hazard an opinion on the pro¬ 
duct of these placer claims, hence place no estimate of revenue from 
this source. 


Grand total net earnings.$2,500,000 

PROPOSITION TO INVESTORS. 

The Company in offering for sale 50 per cent of its entire capital stock, 
which is fully paid up and non-assessable under the laws of the State of Wash¬ 
ington, has adopted the following plan for the sale of this interest: 

ONE THOUSAND INVESTMENT CERTIFICATES will be issued 
in denominations of $500 each. These certificates will be sold at par as fol¬ 
lows : 20 per cent of the face value of each certificate R> be paid in cash upon 
allotment to the purchasers, and the balance of the unpaid purchase price to be 
paid in installments of 20 per cent per annum. 

The option is given to the INVESTMENT CERTIFICATE HOLDER 
to surrender the same at any time and receive full paid up and non-assessable 
shares of stock in the Company for the full amount paid in at the date of sur¬ 
render at the rate of one share for each $5.00 paid in on each Investment Cer¬ 
tificate. 

INVESTMENT CERTIFICATE HOLDERS will be entitled to credits 
in shape of dividends on each certificate from the net earnings of the Company 
the same as if they were stockholders to 1 the full amount of the stock covered 
by such investment certificates so held by them. 

The purpose of the company is to use the funds paid in by the INVEST¬ 
MENT CERTIFICATE HOLDERS to place the mines and the business of 
the Company on a dividend paying basis at the earliest moment possible and 
to pay to each INVESTMENT CERTIFICATE HOLDER, as well as the 
stockholders, the largest dividends it is possible for the properties and business 
to earn. 

The Company hopes to place the properties on a dividend paying basis 
after two installments shall have been paid in. 

THE CO-OPERATIVE FEATURE OF THIS PLAN. 

When the enterprise has been placed on a paying basis the Company 
agrees to cancel all future payments on the unpaid purchase price of the invest¬ 
ment certificates so held at this time, and to issue to the holders of such certifi¬ 
cates full paid up shares of stock at the rate of $5.00 per share for the full face 
value of each INVESTMENT CERTIFICATE, no matter what amount may 
have been paid in on the same at this time. 

The net revenues of the Company will, we believe, after the second pay¬ 
ment of 20 per cent from the INVESTMENT CERTIFICATE HOLDERS, 
enable us to cancel all future payments on the INVESTMENT CERTIFI¬ 
CATES (UNDER THE TERMS OF OUR CONTRACT OF SALE) con¬ 
vert the INVESTMENT CERTIFICATES into full paid up shares of stock 
in the Company, pay a dividend of $5.00 per share to each stockholder set aside 
$1,000,000 as a reserve fund, and leave $500,000 as cash on hand for contin¬ 
gent expenses. 





The net earnings of the Company from this time on, we believe, will be 
sufficient to pay a dividend of $10.00 per share per annum to all stockholders. 

These estimates are conservative in the extreme, especially so when we 
put the yearly output of ore as low as 24,000 tons, which seems insignificant 
when making comparison with the product of other noted mines of this class. 
We refer to the Leadville mines in Colorado, the Eureka and Richmond Con¬ 
solidated mines in Nevada, the Ontario mine in Utah, the Coeur d’Alene mines 
in Idaho, the large lead and silver producing mines in the Kootenay country 
in British Columbia, the Broken Hill mines in Australia and many others too 
numerous to tabulate here. Many of these mines have paid from $12,000,000 
to $15,000,000 in dividends and some of them as much as $30,000,000. 

The average value of the ore produced from most of these mines is less 
than one-third the value of the Omilak ores. 

COMPARATIVE PRODUCT WITH OTHER MINES. 

The Rossland mines, in the Kootenay country, British Columbia, pro¬ 
duced in 1898, 116,697 tons, value $2,804,758, an average value of $20 and a 
fraction per ton. The same mines produced in 1899, 183,670 tons, value 
$3>3°6,o6o, an average value of less than $20 per ton. 

116,697 tons of Omilak ore at the lowest average value of $75.00 per ton 
net, would mean $8,752,275 per annum. 

183,670 tons of Omilak ore at the lowest average value of $75.00 per ton 
net, would mean $13,775,250 per annum. 

In a published interview with Mr. John Howell, manager of the Broken 
Hill mines in Australia, he said: “The mine was located about ten years ago. 
It is situated about 300 miles from Adelaide, New South Wales. The ore car¬ 
ries about 15 to 28 per cent lead and from 4 to 20 ounces silver to the ton. In 
the nine years that the mine has been worked' it has yielded over 70,000,000 
ounces of silver and upwards of 300,000 tons of lead. For the past six years it 
has paid 6,000,000 pounds Stirling ($30,000,000) in dividends. In the first 
three years it paid about $500,000 a month in dividends, but since the fall in 
silver it has been paying about $250,000 per month. There are about 16,000 
stockholders. The company employs between 4,000 and 5,000 hands. The 
fleet of vessels in the employ of the company is very large, as there is a con¬ 
tinuous arrival of vessels from Sidney with coal, from England with coke, and 
from Oregon with lumber. The output of the mines goes to 1 England, China 
and India.” 

During the year 1896 this mine produced 426,325 tons of ore, yielding 
8,135,870 ounces of silver and 22,023 tons Lad. 

The ore from this mine carries only 15 to 28 per cent, in lead, and from 
4 to 20 ounces in silver per ton. 

Such ore cannot be compared with Omilak ores, which carry 140 ounces 
in silver and over 70 per cent, in lead per ton. 

The argentiferous galena ore from Omilak, in its natural state when 
mined from the ground, is bullion itself. The ore has heretofore been sold 
to the smelters to be used as a flux in reducing rebellious ores from other 
mines. 

The Richmond Consolidated mine in Nevada is owned in London, Eng¬ 
land. The ore is similar to the Omilak mines. The latest report we have from 
this property is quite old, but shows that up to that time the mines had paid 
$4,012,387 in dividends. 

The Eureka Consolidated in Neveda adjoins the Richmond, is an Amer¬ 
ican company. The last report we have from this mine is an old one, but shows 
that the mine had then paid $4,817,500 in dividends. 


1 he Ontario mine in Utah, which produces ore of the same character as 
the Omilak, has a record of dividends to the extent of $13,557,500. 

The total value of the lead and zinc ores produced from the lead district 
near Joplin, Mo., for 1899, exceeded $11,000,000. The ore from this district 
carries no silver. 

THE INVESTMENT CERTIFICATE HOLDER’S ACCOUNT. 

Assuming that the property and business of the Company will be placed 
upon a dividend paying basis after the second installment of 20 per cent on 
the INVESTMENT CERTIFICATES has been paid in and that the first 
dividend will be $5.00 per share and thereafter $10.00 per share per annum, 
as shown in our estimates in this Prospectus. The account of the holder of 
ten INVESTMENT CERTIFICATES would then be as follows: 

.Dr. 

To TEN INVESTMENT CERTIFICATES (Equal to 1000 shares stock) 
IN THE RUSSIAN-AMERICAN MINING & EXPLOR¬ 
ATION COMPANY. 


Cr. $5,000 

By 20 per cent cash 1st installment.$ 1,000 

By 20 per cent cash 2nd installment. 1,000 

By dividend on 1,000 shares at $5.00. 5,000 

By cancellation of three installments at $1,000. 3,000 


$10,000 $5,000 

The above account shows that two installments of 20 per cent each, 
amounting to $2,000, has been paid in and the INVESTMENT CERTIFI¬ 
CATE holder has received from the Company 1,000 shares of paid up stock 
covering the full face value pf the investment certificates, a cancellation of three 
future installments on said INVESTMENT CERTIFICATES and a dividend 
of $5.00 per share on the 1000 shares of stock—equal to $5,000—on the $2,000 
investment, or 250 per cent after the second year. 

Assuming that three installments of 20 per cent each would be paid be¬ 
fore the dividend is declared, the account would then stand as follows: 

.Dr. 

To TEN INVESTMENT CERTIFICATES (Equal to 1,000 Shares Stock) 
IN THE RUSSIAN-AMERICAN MINING & EX¬ 
PLORATION COMPANY. 


Cr. $5,000 

By 20 per cent cash 1st installment.$ 1,000 

By 20 per cent cash 2nd installment. 1,000 

By 20 per cent cash 3rd installment. 1,000 

By dividend on 1,000 shares at $5.00. 5,000 

By cancellation of two installments at $1,000. 2,000 


$10,000 $5,000 

The latter account shows that three installments of 20 per cent each, 
amounting to $3,000, has been paid in, and the INVESTMENT CERTIFI¬ 
CATE holder has received from the Company 1,000 shares of paid up stock 
covering the full face value of the INVESTMENT CERTIFICATES, a can¬ 
cellation of two future installments on said INVESTMENT CERTIFI- 



















CATES, and a dividend of $5.00 on the 1,000 shares of stock, equal to $5,000 
on the $3,000 investment, or 166 2-3 percent, after the third year. 

Should the dividends equal $10.00 per share after the third year (which 
we believe will prove to be the case) the account would then stand as follows: 

.Dr. 

To TEN INVESTMENT CERTIFICATES (Equal to 1,000 Shares Stock) 
IN THE RUSSIAN-AMERICAN MINING & EX¬ 
PLORATION COMPANY. 


Cr. • $5,000 

By 20 per cent cash 1st installment.$ 1,000 

By 20 per cent cash 2nd installment. 1,000 

By 20 per cent cash 3rd installment. 1,000 

By dividend on 1,000 shares at $10.00. 10,000 

By cancellation of two installments at $1,000. 2,000 


$15,000 $5,000 

The latter account shows that three installments of 20 per cent each, 
amounting to $3,000, has been paid in, and the investment certificate holder 
has received from the Company 1,000 shares of paid up stock, covering the full 
face value of the investment certificates, a cancellation of two' future install¬ 
ments on said INVESTMENT CERTIFICATES and a dividend of $10.00 
per share on the 1,000 shares of stock, equal to $10,000 on the $3,000 invest¬ 
ment, or 333 1-3 per cent on the investment after the third year. 

THE ACCOUNT WHERE OPTION TO SURRENDER IS EXERCISED 

Under the option given to the INVESTMENT CERTIFICATE holder 
to surrender the certificates at any time and receive full paid up shares of stock 
at the rate of one share for each S5.00 paid in. 

The account of the holder of ten INVESTMENT CERTIFICATES 
who surrenders the same after payment of first installment of 20 per cent would 
be as follows: 


.Dr. 

To TEN INVESTMENT CERTIFICATES (Equal to 1,000 Shares Stock) 
IN THE RUSSSIAN-AMERICAN MINING & EX¬ 
PLORATION COMPANY. 


Cr. $5,000 

By 20 per cent cash 1st installment.$ 1,000 

(Option to surrender exercised) 

By value of Investment Certificates surrendered. 4,000 

By dividend on 200 shares at $5.00. 1,000 

$ 6,000 5,000 


The above account shows that one installment of 20 per cent, amounting 
to $1,000, has been paid in. The INVESTMENT CERTIFICATE holder 
has exercised the option to surrender the INVESTMENT CERTIFICATES, 
has received 200 shares paid up stock for the $1,000 paid in, and a dividend of 
$5-°c per share equal to $1,000 on the $1,000 investment or 100 per cent after 
the second year. 

Assuming that the INVESTMEN 1 CERTIFICATE holder exercises 
the option to surrender his CERTIFICATES after he has paid the second 
installment of 20 per cent the account would then stand as follows: 
















Dr. 


To TEN INVESTMENT CERTIFICATES (Equal to 1,000 Shares 
IN THE RUSSIAN-AMERICAN MINING & EX¬ 
PLORATION COMPANY. 


Cr. 

By 20 per cent cash ist installment.$ 1,000 

By 20 per cent cash 2nd installment. 1,000 

By value of Investment Certificates surrendered. 3,000 

By dividend on 400 shares at $5.00. 2,000 


Stock) 


$5,000 


$ 7,000 $5,000 

The above account shows that two installments of 20 per cent each, 
amounting to $2,000, has been paid in. The INVESTMENT CERTIFICATE 
holder has exercised the option to surrender his INVESTMENT CERTIFI¬ 
CATES, has received 400 shares paid up stock for the $2,000 paid in and a 
dividend of $5.00 per share, equal to $2,000 on the $2,000 investment, or 100 
per cent, after the second year. 

Should the dividends equal $10.00 per share after the third year, the 
account would then stand: 


.Dr. 

To TEN INVESTMENT CERTIFICATES (Equal to 1,000 Shares Stock) 
IN THE RUSSIAN-AMERICAN MINING & EXPLOR¬ 
ATION COMPANY. 


Cr. $5,000 

By 20 per cent cash ist installment.$1,000 

By 20 per cent cash 2nd installment... 1,000 

By value of Investment Certificate surrendered. 3,000 

By dividend on 400 shares at $10.00. 4,000 


$9,000 $5,000 

The above account shows that two* installments of 20 per cent each, 
amounting to $2,000, has been paid in, the INVESTMENT CERTIFICATE 
holder has exercised the option to surrender the investment certificates, has 
received 400 shares of paid up stock for the $2,000 paid in and a dividend of 
$10.00 per share, equal to $4,000, on the $2,000 investment, or 200 per cent, 
after the third year. 

From the above the relative statement for the holder of any number of 
INVESTMENT CERTIFICATES from one up to 1,000 can be arrived at 
by a little calculation. 

A SAFE INVESTMENT. 

It will be seen from this general showing that the proposition thus submit¬ 
ted is the safest investment now offered in Alaska. This is shown from the 
operation of the mines alone, now owned and covered by U. S. patents, besides 
the business and trading features of the Company and the certain acquisition of 
other valuable mineral claims through the prospecting and exploring depart¬ 
ment of the Company, under the charge of the oldest and best experienced 
men in Alaska. This latter feature of the Company’s plans would in itself, 
from actual knowledge and information nozv solely in possession of the Com¬ 
pany, be an investment equal in value to all the funds raised from the sale of 
all the investment certificates offered. 
















The Company will operate with competent and responsible heads for each 
department, with such skilled labor as can be employed to best serve its inter¬ 
ests in Alaska. 

Mr. John C. Green is thoroughly familiar with all the conditions existing 
in this section of Alaska, and has gained such a practical knowledge of these 
mines from long years of experience that the Company has placed him in 
charge of the enterprise, and to him will be confided the full management of 
the Company’s affairs. 

The extreme low rates offered for return cargoes of ore from Golovin 
Bay by the large fleet of steamers of the Empire Transportation Company 
and by other vessels, places our Company in the market this year for the ship¬ 
ment of its supplies to Golovin Bay only. To do this it is our purpose to 
charter a first class vessel to convey such supplies to Alaska. This vessel will 
be of sufficient size to take outside freight for the same point at a fair margin 
of profit. 

SUBSCRIPTIONS. 

1. The subscription books for the sale of the Investment Certificates 
set forth in this Prospectus will be opened at the office of the Company in 
Seattle, Washington, on March 15th, 1900, and will close at the option of the 
Company, at such time thereafter as may be deemed advisable. 

2. If the applications received are in excess of the certificates offered for 
sale, then and in that case the Investment Certificates will be allotted to the 
whole number of applicants pro rata in the order of their application. 

3. Unless one-half of all of the certificates offered for sale under the 
terms of this Prospectus are subscribed for on or before May 15th, 1900, the 
amount paid on deposit will be returned to the applicant and the sales declared 
cancelled. 

4. The right is reserved to reject any subscription in whole or in part, 
and if wholly rejected the amount paid on application will be returned. 

5. The balance of the 20 per cent due on first payment on the face value 
of the certificates allotted to< the subscriber must be paid within ten days after 
notice and when the Investment Certificates are duly executed and delivered 
to the subscriber. The subsequent yearly installments to be paid on 30 days 
notice. 

6. It is not intended to* list the shares of the Company or the Investment 
Certificates on any Stock Exchange until after the properties and business of 
the Company have been placed upon a dividend paying basis. 

7. To carry out the plan outlined in this PROSPECTUS, the Stock¬ 
holders of the Russian-American Mining and Exploration Company will, 
on or before May 15th, 1900, deposit in escrow in some United States De¬ 
pository one-half of the entire capital stock of the company, subject to the 
terms of this PROSPECTUS, and as soon as the INVESTMENT CER¬ 
TIFICATES are subscribed for, will allow, one-half of the Board of Direct¬ 
ors of the Company, to be chosen from among, and by, the INVESTMENT 
CERTIFICATE HOLDERS, thereby giving to such INVESTORS an 
equal voice in the management of the affairs of the company. 

Prospectuses and further information may be obtained at the office of the 
Company in Seattle, Washington, either in person or by letter or from such 
agencies in the East as may be hereafter appointed, due notice of which will 
be given. 

Applications from all sources must be sent addressed to 

- JOHN C. GREEN, 

President Russian-American Mining and Exploration Co. 
Pacific Block, Seattle, Wash. 


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FORM OF INVESTMENT CERTIFICATE 


tRussiansHmerkan 
/lining and Exploration Company 

Incorporated Under Laws of Washington. 

Location of Properties Alaska Territory, U. S. A. 

No. INVESTMENT CERTIFICATE. $500 

This is to Certify, that in consideration of the sum of One Hundred 
Dollars paid to the Russian-American Mining and Exploration Company by 

. of . 

and of the Agreement on the part of the said. 

to pay the further sum of Four Hundred Dollars in lawful money of the 
United States of America, as may be required by the Russian-American Min¬ 
ing and Exploration Company, in installments not to exceed twenty per cent 

per annum on the face value of this Certificate. The said. 

is entitled to this Investment Certificate of Five Hundred Dollars, subject to 
the provisions endorsed hereon, which are referred to and made a part hereof. 

In Witness Whereof, the Russian-American Mining and Exploration 
Company has caused this Certificate to be Signed by its President and Secre¬ 
tary, at its Office in the City of Seattle, County of King, State of Washing- 

41 • 

ton, this.of.. 19° • • 


Secretary. 


President. 












PROVISIONS. 


I. The holder of this Certificate may at any time convert the same into 
full paid up and non-assessable shares of the capital stock of the Russian- 
American Mining and Exploration Company at the rate of one share of stock 
for each five dollars paid in on the Certificate. 

II. The holder of this Certificate who complies with its 
provisions will be credited with dividends earned by the Russian- 
Ainerican Mining and Exploration Company, same as full 
paid up stockholders, in proportion to the number of shares covered by the 
face value of this Certificate at five dollars per share, and the Company agrees 
to cancel all future installments falling due as soon as the properties are put 
upon a dividend paying basis. 

III. In the event of the death of the holder of this certificate his or her 
legal representatives shall have the option of surrendering the same and re¬ 
ceiving the shares of stock in the company as above provided or of continuing 
it to maturity under the conditions of sale. 

IV. This certificate is transferrable only upon written consent of the 
Russian-American Mining and Exploration Company. 

V. No one has authority to alter or change the terms of this certificate 
or to bind the Russian-American Mining and Exploration Company by any 
statement not in conformity herewith. 


Form of Application 


APPLICATION FOR INVESTMENT CERTIFICATES. 

Mr. John C. Green, President Russian-American Mining and Explor¬ 
ation Company, Pacific Block, Seattle, Wash.: 

I hereby apply for. INVESTMENT CERTIFICATES 

at the par value of Five Hundred Dollars each of the Russian-American Min¬ 
ing and Exploration Company. Five per cent, of the face value of said IN¬ 
VESTMENT CERTIFICATES so subscribed for by myself has this day 
been forwarded to> you, upon receipt of which I request that the certificates 
applied for be allotted to me or any smaller number be allotted to me, upon 
the terms and conditions of the prospectus of said Company, and I request you 

to place my name on the register of Investment Certificate holders and I 
agree to pay the balance in terms of said prospectus. 

Address. 


Date of Application'. 


190c. 







The following extracts from government reports and newspaper clippings will give a 
better idea of this section of country and of this enterprise: 

FROM THE GOVERNOR OF ALASKA. 

(Annual Report.) 

What appears to me to be a most promising silver mining district is that of Golovin 
Bay, or rather of Fish river, a stream which empties into the bay of that name. A mine 
from which several hundred tons of very rich ore was taken, is being reopened with every 
promise of successful outcome. This silver belt is located in the mountain range of the 
broad peninsula which projects itself to the westward between Bering Sea on the south 
and the Arctic Ocean on the north, and in latitude 65°. It is about thirty miles distant 
from the navigable waters of Golovin Bay, which is a branch or arm of Norton Sound, and 
the only disadvantage, so far as I can learn, is that the ore has to be packed some miles 
to the river and thence transported in light-draught steam-tugs, lor towing purposes on the 
river, so that part of the transportaion will not be as laborious and expensive as it might 
be surmised. I was unable, much as I desired, to visit the mine, but while at St. Michael’s 
on my way back from the Arctic settlements, I met the superintendent and a couple of 
the miners who had been employed in the mine. The superintendent had come to that 
place in a schooner owned or chartered by his company, for winter supplies. I obtained 
specimens of the ore, which I think is the finest I have ever seen anywhere. It is an ar¬ 
gentiferous galena, carrying all the way from 70 to 85 per cent, of pure lead and from 
$100 to $250 silver to the ton. The miners stated that at the time they left, the vein, wlTch 
is six feet wide, had just been struck through a new tunnel driven into the south side of 
the ridge. They assured me that the ore on board the schooner was a fair sample of the 
whole width of the lode, and that it was their belief that this silver belt would be found 
extending through the whole length of the mountain range between the head of Norton 
Sound and Port Clarence. An ore that is all but from 10 to 15 per cent, mineral is some¬ 
thing remarkable, even though the great bulk be a base metal, which alone would not pay 
the cost of mining and transportation to market. Yet, if the lead be excluded as of no 
value whatever, this mine, should the lode be found an ordinary durable one, cannot fail 
to prove immensely profitable for the silver alone. 

Resolutipn jjassed in Trans-Mississippi Commercial Congress at its Session in St. Louis, 

Misouri, in 1894, Introduced by J. C. Green , delegate from Alaska. 

ALASKA LAWS. 

Resolved, That this congress, representing the interests of the great West, do most 
earnestly petition the Congress of the United States to pass such laws as will insure to 
the mhabitants of the territory of Alaska protection to landed interests, a proper admin¬ 
istration of law and order throughout the territory, and the extension of mail facilities 
into the Yukon river, to Northwestern Alaska, and Fish River districts. 

To carry out this resolution we earnestly ask that a commission be appointed at the 
next session of Congress, of which the governor of the territory shall be an ex-officio mem¬ 
ber, whose duty it shall be to visit the different sections of the Territory and to render 
a report to Congress; and that such recommendation take due form of law by appropriate 
legislation. • 

ARRIVAL OF THE SCHOONER KIMBALL FROM GOLOVIN BAY. 

(From San Francisco Chronicle.) 

“The schooner Helen N. Kimball, twenty-three days from Golovin Bay, Alaska, arrived 
in port last night. She left here in April to carry provisions and supplies to the mines in 
the Fish river mining district, in the extreme northern portion of Alaska. She returned 
last evening with a valuable cargo of ore from the mines. J. C. Green came down on the 
Kimball. To a Chronicle reporter he said: 

“Our country is one of the most out of the way places in Alaska. No vessels except 
those we charter have ever visited Golovin Bay. 

“The natives are in a most deplorable condition. They live on game and fish entirely. 
They are an intelligent, peaceable folk, and they should be taken care of by our govern¬ 
ment, as they live on American soil and are a part of our nation. They are even more 
intelligent than many of our whites. There is evidence that the country around Golovin 
Bay was once a tropical region. Remains of mastodons are found everywhere, and I 
brought back with me perfectly preserved mastodon teeth weighing twenty pounds each. 

“Our miners are doing well and have plenty of food. Before I left we had cut enough 
hay to supply our animals with food for the winter. 

“We have our headquarters on Golovin Bay, with three stations along Fish river on 
the way to the mines. The Kimball will return to the mines as soon as we can unload our 
ore and fit out again with provisions and supplies.” 


A TRIP TO ALASKA—IN SEARCH OF GOLD. 


“Her Mountains of Silver”—Natural Resources. 

1881. 

(By J. C. GREEN.) 

The 1 erritory of Alaska, until the last few years, has attracted but little attention 
rom the public at large, and indeed the average citizen of the United States has given 
but little thought to this new Territory, acquired by our government from the Russians 
duiing the close of the year 1867, in consideration of the cash payment of $7,200,000. 
Instead of examining more closely into the natural resources of this vast territory of 
some 500,000 square miles of land, we have been inclined to judge too harshly of this 
newly acquired country, without giving an impartial examination of her great wealth. 
Alaska, instead of being a barren waste, as has been so often told us by our political 
speakers, condemning our government for the reckless expenditure of such a sum in 
her purchase, is on the other hand one of the most important acquisitions of new ter¬ 
ritory. By this acquisition we extend our possessions to the far off regions of the 
North, and the Esquimaux in his native home, adds to the population of our country. 
Now that fourteen years have quietly passed since this purchase was made, and to-day 
everything is at peace and harmony with our new relations, let us turn over a page, for 
a moment, and see what the future prospects are for the pioneer who seeks to open up 
new fields for the thrift and energy of the American in this comparatively new world. 

Here we have a northerly possession of more than 500,000 square miles of land, a 
territory equal in size to the states and territories of New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, 
Nevada, and California combined. When we come to contemplete the magnitude of such 
a vast northerly possession, it is but naturai that our eyes should be turned to investi¬ 
gating its resources, and its future prospects from a commercial point of view. That 
Alaska has unlimited resources now awaiting development, there can be no doubt, and 
it devolves upon the man of pluck, and American push and energy, to develop this 
country. The 49er of California has already opened his eyes to the mining interests, 
which have every indication of being successfully carried on in this new field, to bound¬ 
less proportions. There can be no doubt of the richness of the hidden treasures in the 
mountains of this northerly region. 

Aside from the vast mineral resources of gold, silver, iron, copper, lead, and cinnibar, 
already discovered and known to exist in large quantities, Alaska presents other fields 
of equal, if not greater importance, for development. The most important of these are 
the fur seal, found only in the Pribleoff group in Behring Sea, composed of the two small 
islands of St. George and St. Paul. These islands are leased by the government to the 
Alaska Commercial Company under certain conditions, limiting the taking of the fur 
seal to 100,000 a year. This lease is a source of considerable revenue to our govern¬ 
ment. Under this restriction to the killing of 100,000 a year, and so conducted that the 
young female under certain ages are not taken, the seal is increasing rapidly in numbers, 
and is not being exterminated as has been the case on our south American coast, where 
any and all persons have been permitted to take seal without restrictions. Alaska to¬ 
day is furnishing two-thirds of the fur seal of the whole world. Next in importance is 
the valuable fur of the sea otter, found chiefly in the southern portion of the Territory, 
along the shores of the Alaska peninsula, from Cook’s inlet, to the westward as far as 
the small island of Attou, near the Asiatic coast. This is the most valuable fur in the 
market. These are among the principal sea-bearing furs; whilst on land we find in 
great abundance, the land otter, mink, wolverine, sable, muskrat, and the skins, hides 
and pelts of the moose, reindeer, elk, bears, wolves, etc., all of which are trapped and 
sold by the natives to the numerous trading vessels visiting this section of country yearly 
in pursuit of trade. 

Next in importance, comes the fisheries of Alaska, which are simply inexhaustible. 
Every stream and brook in its season may be found literally alive with the finny tribe, 
principally salmon. Then we have the codfish, halibut, herring and the Alaska mackerel. 
The salmon are of the finest species, and are much superior in size and quality to those 
of the waters of the Sacramento or Columbia rivers, and are found in immense quanti¬ 
ties in the summer months in all of the creeks, rivers and inlets. These fish are so 
plentiful the streams scarcely afford sufficient passage for them to pass up in the spawn¬ 
ing season. This is the harvest season for the natives, who catch them in immense 
quantities, simply by a scoop net from shore, or a board with nails driven in the end 
with which they rake them out. These fish are split in half and dried in the sun by the 
natives, for winter subsistence. There are two or three species of the salmon in the 
waters of Alaska. The average fish will weigh from ten to fifty pounds. The larger, 


commonly called the Imperial salmon, grows to immense proportions. It has been au¬ 
thoritatively stated that they have been caught weighing as much as two hundred pounds. 

The codfish are found in large quantities, in all parts of the Territory along the 
sea coast, but more especially along the coast of the Alaska peninsula, where they may 
be caught with hook and line, in 20 to 50 fathoms of water. This fish is so abundant, 
it is an easy matter to catch several hundred an hour. With three lines during my stay 
in the Territory I saw more than seven hundred caught in three hours’ time. 

Halibut are also found along the coast of the Alaska peninsula, but in greater abun¬ 
dance in the deeper waters around the Shummigan islands, to the westward of Kodiak. 

The herring of Alaska are equal to any if not superior to the Dutch herring, or 
Potomac river herring, and are found to the westward of Unimak Pass of the Alaska 
peninsula, and around the coast of the islands of Ounalaska, Akatan, Atka and the lesser 
islands of the Andrianoves group. 

The Alaska mackerel, found principally around the island of Akatan, to the west of 
Ounalaska, in great abundance, is a most delicious fish, and is much superior to any 
Eastern mackerel we have in the market. This fish commands to-day a fancy price in 
San Francisco, among those who are not ignorant of their superior flavor, over the 
common eastern mackerel. This comprises the fishing interests, which will be opened 
to immense traffic in the course of time. 

In the more northern portion of Alaska around and adjacent to Behring straits, are 
the extensive ivory and whaling interests, carried on both by trading vessels by barter 
with the natives, and the whaling fleets which leave San Francisco and the Sandwich 
islands every spring. This branch of industry is too well known to need any comment 
at my hands. 

The mines of Alaska are as yet undeveloped, and the interior of the country has 
not been explored sufficiently to show what may be discovered in this line. Reports, 
however, have come from all sections of the country of immense deposits of precious 
metal. 

Reports came to us a few years ago of what was termed a “mountain of silver,” 
discovered in Northern Alaska. Specimens of this ore were brought to San Francisco 
by the discoverers, and upon being assayed gave such satisfactory results as to lead to 
the organizing of an expedition, which sailed from San Francisco last spring in pursuit 
of this treasure. The expedition was a success so far as finding the “mountain of silver” 
was concerned, but the vessel was wrecked with her cargo of ore just as the party were 
preparing to leave for San Francisco—having stopped on the coast for wood and water, 
were caught by a southwester and driven upon the beach, the prospectors, excepting three, 
finally reached San Francisco at different times, some being picked up by trading vessels, 
some securing passage on board the revenue cutter Thos. W. Corwin, and have told their 
tale. But little has reached the public of their adventures in this new field of wealth. 

Alaska to-day offers inducements to the able-bodied, energetic and thrifty to make 
money by hard licks and perseverence. I believe the day will come when fortunes will 
be taken from her mines alone. Her mines will be the means of truly developing this 
country, which should be done and encouraged by our Pacific coast people, bearing in 
mind that it should be legitimately done. We are not in a condition to have an excite¬ 
ment brought upon our people, no matter what her mines may show, and Alaska at pres¬ 
ent is not a country to make a rush to. Let’s take hold of these things slowly, and I 
think good results will come from our labors. 

The Indians of Alaska are not hostile. In and around Sitka, where the greater 
number of miners have gone, some form of government should exist. But in Northern 
Alaska, where less than fifty whites are to be found in as many hundred square miles, 
the natives are peaceable. I have seen this new country and have much faith in her 
unbounded resources. Its healthful climate and future hopes leads me to seek further 
relations with the generous and kind-hearted Esquimaux. Respectfully, 

J. C. GREEN. 

(THE ABOVE ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE YEAR 1881.) 

OF FISH RIVER MINING DISTRICT, IN ALASKA. 

The New Bonanza of the North—Rich and Profitable Mining Field—Fine Ore Specimens 

(Daily Report, San Francisco.) 

Hundreds of passers-by are attracted by the unusually fine exhibits of ore in the 
windows of the Pacific Coast Steamship Company, at 214 Montgomery street. This 
ore is from the Omilak mines, in the Fish River mining district, Alaska Territory, and 
it is exciting much attention and comment from mining men who know a good piece of 
mineral when they see it. There are large masses of argentiferous galena, glittering 


with solid metal and rich in silver, with a remarkably large percentage of lead; also* 
chlorides, and red, yellow and gray carbonates, and a small bar of bullion run out in 
an assaying furnace, showing the extreme fiuxibility of the ore. As inquiries about the 
mines which yielded such rich ore are numerous, the Report has secured the desired 
information from authentic sources. 

The specimens on exhibition at the place named are from a shipment made from 
the Omilak mine a few months ago. This ore was sampled at the chemical laboratory 
of Prof. Thomas Price & Son, in this city, and afterward sold at $154 per ton. 

DESCRIPTION OF THE MINES. 

The mines are in Fish River mining district, Alaska Territory. A party of miners 
and prospectors fitted out a small schooner in 1881 and proceeding to Golovin bay. 
formed a mining district and the necessary laws to govern it, elected a recorder and 
made locations in compliance with the mining laws of the United States. 

Two locations were made, the Omilak and the Pioneer. The claims are each 1500 
feet in length by 600 feet in width. The deposit occurs in a broad belt of limestone, 
whose course is northwest by southeast, and which crops out boldly and is traceable for 
a long distance. The original owners sunk shafts in various places in the limestone 
formation, and they found galena in every opening covering a large area. The immense 
deposit has been prospected by shafts and open cuts. The ore is argentiferous galena, 
carrying gold, and occurs in the limestone formation near its junction with slate. The 
galena is found in detached masses, surrounded by carbonates of lead, the gangua being . 
limestone, with small quantities of talc. 

An elaborate report was made upon the mines by the late J. H. McMullen, a graduate 
of the University of California. Several expeditions have been sent out, and the ship¬ 
ment of ores made to this city have paid handsomely over and above all expenses. John 
C. Green became the general manager and under his businesslike direction the mines 
have prospered. Mr. Green went to the mines on all but one of the expeditions and has 
reorganized the company, and it is now proposed to work the mines on a large scale. A 
new stern wheel steadier named the William H. Seward was built here, and sent up. 
It is very useful in towing barges and transporting supplies on the Fish river. A large 
number of mules and wagons were also sent up. 

The Omilak mines are only a short distance from the landing place on the Fish 
river and are reached by a good wagon road with easy grade. Wood and water are in 
abundance. The climate in winter is no more severe than in Maine or Michigan, and the 
mines can be worked all the year round. 

HE CALLS IT WONDERLAND. 

Mr. Green Thinks Alaska is a World by Itself. 

(From WASHINGTON POST.) 

Mr. J. C. Green, of Fish river mining district is registered at the National. Mr- 
Green first went into that section in 1881 and has since conducted extensive mining op¬ 
erations there . This is his first visit to Washington in twenty-five years. When he left 
here he was a lad of fourteen, a native Virginian by birth. He expressed astonishment 
at the marked progress and development of Washington and the whole country. He 
believes this march of progress and impetus to trade and business is principally due to 
the development of the great mining region of the West and its wonderful production of 
gold and silver. Incidentally he says that he thinks the hostile legislation against silver 
is the cause of the present uneasiness and distrust among all classes of people and that 
no real and lasting prosperity will come to the people of the United States or of the world 
until silver is again remonetized. 

In speaking of Alaska Mr. Green says it is a land of wonders. Her natural resources 
being immense, and as to area, few people realize that they have in the possession of 
the Territory of Alaska practically a new world of over 380,000,000 acres, or, in other 
words a country as large as all the New England, the Middle and Southern states com¬ 
bined, leaving out a small portion of Texas. Alaska alone, he says, can feed the universe 
with fish, her cod and halibut banks being the largest in the world. The salmon interests 
are immense, over 700,000 cases, worth $4 per case, having been canned there the past 
season The fur industry is also extensr^, Alaska now furnishing three-fourths of the 
fur seal of the world. The whaling interests are very important, and yield annually no 
less than $2 500 000. The mining interests of the Territory, he says, will undoubtedly 
surpass any section of the world. The gold fields of the Yukon are producing largely. 
There is today in operation on Douglas Island, Southeast Alaska, the largest quartz 
stamping mill in the world. Alaska on the whole is a country of gigantic proportions; 
she possesses the finest scenery and has more active volcanoes than any other country on 


•earth; has over 4,000 miles of seacoast.- The Aleutian Archipeligo is the largest and 
most numerous chain of islands in existance. 

It will be a question of only a few years, Mr. Green says, when Alaska will attract 
the attention of the world, and then railroads will be constructed and the country devel¬ 
oped. The Russians are rapidly constructing what is known as the Trans-Siberian Rail¬ 
road, which, in a few years, will give an outlet to that great country on the Pacific, at 
Valivistock, at the mouth of the Amoor River. Several branches running north and south 
are also being rapidly constructed. Twenty-five thousand men are said to be working 
•on this end of the road on construction work. 

Railroads can be built and operated in Alaska much easier than in Northern Europe, 
or in Siberia. There is not as much snow during the winter months in Alaska as there 
is on the Rocky Mountains. 

NORTH POLE MINING. 

A Claim Further North Than Any Mine in the World. 

LAND OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN. 

An Eldorado Amid the Wonders of the Aurora Borealis—Its Owner in This City. 

(From Post-Intelligencer, Seattle.) 

There was a man in Seattle yesterday who owns a mine located probably further 
north than any mine in the world. 

The gentleman’s name is J. C. Green, and his mine is called the “Omilak” mine. It 
is situated on the Fish river in the extreme northwestern part of Alaska, near Golovin 
bay, which is about sixty miles north of St. Michael’s. To get a better idea of how far 
north Mr. Green has gone in the search of his treasure, the location of his mine is in lat¬ 
itude 65 deg. north, longitude 164 deg. west, which is over 1000 miles northwest of Sitka. 

Mr. Green first got possession of his mine in 1881 and has since spent about $100,000 
in developing it. The mine itself is as uniqqe as its location, being “solid metal.” The 
ore is galena, 75 per cent of lead, carrying 143 ounces of silver to the ton and very 
little gold. 

Mr. Green generally spends his winters in California, chartering a ship every spring 
to carry his year’s supply of stores and the miners he takes up with him to his northern 
Eldorado. He pays his men $75 per month and board, but they do not receive their 
wages until after the year’s work is done and the cargo of ore they have taken from the 
mine has been brought down to San Francisco and sold. They are then paid off and 
receive from $900 to $1200 apiece, which comes to them in a lump, for on Golovin bay 
there are no saloons and no opportunity for them to spend money if they wished to. 

The natives, the Esquimaux, are a peacable, intelligent people, and are very quick 
to learn the ways of the Americans. Mr. Green employs them in work about the mines, 
and finds them to be active and willing workers. 

The climate is not so severe as one would suppose it would be in such a northern 
latitude, the summer being warm and pleasant and the winters not so cold as in some lat¬ 
itudes further south. It is the land of the midnight sun, and the wonders of the aurora 
borealis are seen in all their splendor. 

There are no white people there except the miners that are taken up each year, 
but Mr. Green says that one doesn’t have a chance to get lonesome, as there are fish in the 
streams to catch, birds in the air to shoot, and four-footed animals of the earth to kill. 

Mr. Green is a great enthusiast over the resources and coming destiny of the great 
northern empire of Alaska, and says that few people have an idea of its marvelous wealth 
and the extent of its resources. 


John C. Green, who for twenty years has operated from San Francisco, arrived in 
this city yesterday, and expects to live in Seattle. Mr. Green has large mining holdings 
on Norton sound and will resume work on them during the coming summer. 

THE MINE THAT LIES NEAREST THE NORTH POLE. 

A Wilderness of Semi-Tropical Vegitation and a Riot of Fish and Game Within the 

Borders of the Arctic Circle. 

(From the San Francisco Gall.) 

J. C. Green of this city owns and operates the gold and silver mine that lies nearest 
to the north pole. It is situated on Omilak Mountain, a hundred miles inland, and north¬ 
ward from Norton sound, away up in the Alaskan wilderness. 

More particularly, it is not a gold or silver mine, but a lead mine, very rich in 
lead, but carrying a large percentage of both the precious metals. The inaccessibility 
■of the mine has hindered its operation to a great extent, but nevertheless Mr. Green 




has worked it regularly for nearly fifteen years. He calls it his bank. When in need 
of ready money he sails for Alaska, loads his vessel with ore, returns to San Francisco' 
and is in the swim again. 

To reach the mine a course is taken to Norton sound and Golovin bay, then, up Fsh 
river as far as it is navigable, and thence with pack mules to Omilak Mountain and the 
deposit of almost solid lead. 

The story of the discovery and locating of the mine and subsequent operation of it 
is and interesting one of adventure and strange discoveries, entailing the loss of a 
schooner and its crew. 

Along about 1880 a sailing vessel in need of something dropped anchor in Golovin 
bay, on the north side of Norton sound. A sailor going ashore discovered the natives 
making lead bullets by melting ore. He inquired where they got the stuff, and they 
told him up among the hills. He got permission from his captain to go with them, 
and after several days returned with a sackful of heavy ore which he had dug with no 
difficulty off the face of Omilak Mountain. In San Francisco the sailor met J. C. Green, 
who became immediately interested in his story. He interested others and very soon 
an expedition was arranged, led by the sailor. 

“We expected, of course, to find our mine, if we found it at all, in the midst of ice¬ 
bergs and climate terrors that would make the working of it next to impossible,” said 
Mr. Green. “As we proceeded north to the Aleutian Islands, the indications all fitted 
to our expectations. There were icebergs and icefields in our path such as caused 
us to expect a blockade at any hour. But the sailor knew better. He told us to wait 
until we got above the archipelago. To our surprise the further north we went after 
getting through the islands the clearer the water became, until having reached Norton 
sound the contrast was as great almost as though we had sailed south to Hawaii. We 
found green hills and spreading meadows, a rank and luxuriant vegetation, clear sky and 
balmy air. Not only that but we discovered subsequently that these conditions con¬ 
tinued throughout the long six months of summer. In this far northern region, as you 
know, the sun shines almost continuously for six months. The warm Japan current sets 
in toward Norton sound, a range of high mountains serve as a shield against the winds 
of the east,, while it confines the warmer winds of the west. Upon this condition are 
built this paradise in the very shadow, one might say, of the north pole. 

“The hottest weather I ever saw,” continued Mr. Green, “was here in the valley of 
the Fish river, the thermometer standing about 100. The soil is fertile and nature is 
prodigal in her products. Game of all sorts abounds and the rivers are alive with fish. 
Birds of every description, from wild geese to the little humming-bird come here to 
nest. A hunter may come in after a day’s shooting laden with ducks, geese, pheasants 
and grouse, while swallows, reed-birds and sandhill. cranes may be seen everywhere. 
Immense salmon and halibut may be caught in the streams with hook and line. Grass- 
in the meadows grows as high as one’s head and huckleberries grow so thick that they 
may be scooped up by the handful. So you see no man need starve in that region. 1 
have visited the mine almost every year since 1881, and those friends who have had 
occasion to accompany me have never failed to be astonished at what they saw there. 

“It is a country full of wonders, and therefore full of interest. It is, I think, the 
newest country on the face of the earth. What will some day be its coal measures 
are now of the quality of wood. Its .many volcanoes are another proof of its recent 
birth. And I might cite another—the honesty and simplicity of the natives—the 
Eskimos. To a man accustomed to the duplicity of civilization, and of savagery as w& 
see it in the North American Indian, this characteristic is most remarkable. Th& 
Eskimo may, as a rule, be trusted implicitly with any treasure. I have known them 
to work for a day without tasting food, although carrying food tnat did not belong to 
them. However,faithful and honest as they are, they are slow and indifferent in their 
methods, with no ambition, and do not make the best material for our purpose in operat¬ 
ing our mine. 

There is very little snow there, and as for cold it is not to be compared to Montana 
or Dakota. I have never known a man who has spent any time there who was not 
eager to return; in fact I am pestered continually by applications from men who have- 
been up there and who fear that I am going back or send an expedition without them. 
There is that fascination that all new countries have. 

“Dark and dismal in winter? Not at all. To be sure there is very little sunshine, 
but the light skit of snow that covers the ground and the beautiful and wonderful north¬ 
ern lights that illuminate the heavens make it quite cheerful. In summer the sun 
scarcely sets, and one has to keet a very close watch on the time not to allow one day 
to merge into the next without being aware that it has done so. The sun seems to simply 


•dip behind the hill. and. without being missed, rises again at the other end of the 
range on the horizon. 

It is an expensive process to pack the ore out as we have to do it, and a railroad has 
become a necessity. A railroad is entirely feasible between the mine and the ship. 
It would not be the first railroad within the arctic circle. There is one in very success¬ 
ful operation between the Gulf of Bothnia and Loffoden in Northern Europe. 

“Indeed,” concluded Mr. Green, “I expect to live to see the completion of the rail¬ 
road to Asia by way of Alaska and the Bering Straits.” 


(As this PROSPECTUS goes to press telegraphic news is received from 
'Washington, D. C., stating that $400,000 has been appropriated for the con¬ 
struction by the government of a telegraph line 2,400 miles long through 
Alaska to a point on Norton Sound within a few miles of our mining opera¬ 
tions. This work’ it is announced, is to be pushed through to completion by 
1901.) 


We have no late reports at hand regarding the Leadville mines in Color¬ 
ado, discovered in 1876. The "‘Leadville Carbonates,” similar in character to 
the Omilak Carbonates, have made Leadville and Colorado famous the world 
over, and marked the time when the search for gold was changed to a search 
for lead-silver ores. 

A recent report of the “Colorado State Bureau of Mines” shows that the 
Leadville mines, notwithstanding the decline in silver and lead values, produced 
steadily from 1880 to 1892 from $10,000,000 to $12,000,000 annually. 




APPLICATION FOR INVESTMENT CERTIFICATES. 


Mr. John C. Green, President Russian-American Mining.and Exploration Company, 
Pacific Block, Seattle, Wash.: 

I hereby apply for.INVESTMENT CERTIFICATES at the par 

value of Five Hundred Dollars each of the Russian-American Mining and Exploration 
Company. Five per cent, of the face value of said INVESTMENT CERTIFICATES so 
subscribed for by myself has this day been forwarded to you, upon receipt of which I 

request that the certificates applied for be allotted to me, or any smaller number to be 

• 

allotted to me, upon the terms and conditions of the prospectus of said Company, and I 
request you to place my name on the register of Investment Certmcate holders and I 
agree to pay the balance in terms of said prospectus. 


Address 

/ 


Date of Application: 






































LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 


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